The court ruled that serious allegations against public servants cannot be quashed based solely on private compromise, stressing public interest and the gravity of office responsibilities.

JUDGMENT :

SUMEET GOEL, J.

1. The petition in hand has been preferred by the accused – petitioners under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, for quashing of FIR No.234 dated 22.08.2024 (hereinafter to be referred as the impugned FIR) registered under Sections 121 (1), 132, 221, 324(6) of BNS at Police Station Beri, Jhajjar, Haryana, as also the proceedings subsequent thereto, on the basis of a compromise deed dated 07.08.2025 (Annexures P-2, P-4 and P-6) appended with the present petition.

2. The gravamen of the impugned FIR is that on 21.08.2024, employees namely Rakesh (Lineman), Sunil (Assistant Lineman) and Mohit (Assistant Lineman) (respondent Nos.2 to 4 herein) were on night duty at the complaint centre, Beri, when around 11:40 P.M. they returned from a complaint` visit to Jat Dharamshala, Beri. When they reached the complaint centre, which is located in the Dharamshala, some people present there stopped them from entering by saying that they had booked the Dharamshala for their own use. The employees explained that it was the official complaint center and they were on night duty. During this argument, the villagers informed the Sarpanch of Bishan village namely Indrajit Suhag who alongwith his sons came to the spot. Without any discussion, they started abusing, threatening and physically assaulting the employees. They also threatened to kill them and get them fired from their jobs. When the employees tried to contact the Junior Engineer (JE) namely Anil on the government phone, Sarpanch namely Indrajit Suhag threw the phone away by saying that he did not know any JE. This incident created fear amongst the employees making it unsafe for them to perform night duty at the complaint Centre. In view of this, a request was made to register an FIR against Sarpanch Indrajit Suhag and his sons for obstructing government work; issuing death threats and damaging a government phone. Furthermore, employee namely Rakesh and Mohit were injured during the course of the aforesaid occurrence. After investigation, it was found that offences under Sections 132 , 221, 324, 6 of BNS and other relevant law had been committed. Accordingly, the instant case was registered. On 24.08.2024, based on the evidence, accused Inderjeet Suhag and Akshay Suhag (petitioners herein) were arrested and their statements were recorded. Based on these set of allegations, the impugned FIR was got registered.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioners has argued that the petitioners have been falsely implicated into the impugned FIR, whereinafter the trial Court has already taken cognizance of the case, issued process against the petitioners and fixed 17.09.2025 for framing of charges. According to learned counsel, the petitioners are on regular bail and have been regularly appearing before the trial Court. Learned counsel for the petitioners has further submitted that a compromise was entered into between the petitioners and the FIR-complainant on 07.08.2025 (colly), relevant whereof reads as under:-

“1. That the case FIR No. 234 dated 22.08.2024 under section 121 (1),132, 221, 324(6) of BNS has been registered by the Deponent against the second parties/accused (Mr. Inderjeet Suhag 5/o Late Sh. Karan Singh and Mr. Akshay Suhag 5/o Sh. Inderjeet Suhag) at P.S. Beri, Jhajjar, Haryana.

2. That the said FIR was registered as the Deponent had mistakenly Identified the second parties/accused (Mr. Inderjeet Suhag S/o Late Sh. Karan Singh and Mr. Akshay Suhag S/o Sh. Inderjeet Suhag) and